David Carradine Reportedly Commits Suicide

The BBC is reporting that actor David Carradine was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room Thursday morning. Thai police believe he committed suicide, saying that the 72-year old was found by a hotel maid sitting in his robe, with a rope around his neck and body. Carradine was in Thailand working on the film "Stretch," the BBC reported.

The BBC is reporting that actor David Carradine was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room Thursday morning. Thai police believe he committed suicide, saying that the 72-year old was found by a hotel maid sitting in his robe, with a rope around his neck and body. Carradine was in Thailand working on the film "Stretch," the BBC reported.

Carradine was well-known for his work as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s television series "Kung Fu" (which spawned sequels in the 1980s and 1990s, in which he also starred), and starred in over 200 films and television series, including work for directors Martin Scorcese (playing 'Big' Bill Shelly in 1972's "Boxcar Bertha"), Ingmar Bergman (playing Abel Rosenberg in 1977's "The Serpent's Egg"), and Hal Ashby (playing Woody Guthrie in 1976's "Bound for Glory," in which he won a National Board of Review award for best actor, and was nominated for a Golden Globe). Recently, he found a significant career resurgence playing "Bill" in Quentin Tarantino's two-part "Kill Bill" films. The Guardian's Xan Brooks has a "life in clips" memorial on his blog.

Carradine was born John Arthur Carradine on Dec. 8, 1936, in Hollywood, California. His father was part of director John Ford’s company of character actors. His mother was the former Ardanelle McCool, the first of his father’s four wives. Carradine is survived by his wife, Annie Bierman, and four children.